Robin Hebrock

Christmas is in the air and for eight consecutive years in the Pahrump Valley, the holiday season has been heralded by what has become a much-loved community tradition, the Community Christmas Tree Lighting.

Thanksgiving is a time for appreciation and for hundreds of Pahrump area residents and visitors, there was plenty to be grateful for this year at the Pahrump Holiday Task Force’s annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner.

Throughout much of 2019 and into 2020, a group of local residents hoping to add a new educational option to the valley worked diligently toward establishing Pahrump Valley Academy, which would have been the valley’s very first public charter school, only to have the proposal nixed in early 2020.

Donning a U.S. armed forces uniform is something that comes with great risk and the men and women who step up to take on the challenge of protecting America through military service often come home with injuries, both the visible and the invisible kind.

Development of Pahrump’s newest park, Kellogg Park on the southern end of the valley, continues to move along steadily, with a variety of milestones reached in recent months and officials with the town of Pahrump and Nye County now setting their sights on the next steps of the development process.

Throughout its many years, the Pahrump Public Lands Advisory Committee hasn’t seen a whole lot of community involvement, with the group historically hosting its monthly meetings amid almost empty audiences.

The men and women who have served in the United States military have given of themselves, made sacrifices on a daily basis and put the safety of others before themselves in order to protect America but when service comes to an end and they return to civilian life, the transition can be jarring.

November is National Native American Heritage Month and there could be no better time in which to celebrate the vibrant culture of the country’s many Native American tribes.

Like an array of other issues and topics, COVID-19 has proven to be a subject which serves as yet another wedge between an already divided America and in many cases, it’s pitting local, state and federal governments against one another in a bid to decide what is best for the communities they serve.

With Thanksgiving taking place tomorrow and Christmas coming right on its heels just one month later, that means it is time for many to start turning their attention to the most wonderful time of the year. In the Pahrump Valley, the start of the Christmas season is one that is greeted with joyful delight but it wouldn’t feel quite complete without what has become a beloved local tradition, the lighting of the Community Christmas Tree.

In a perfect world, the comfort and security of a warm, soft bed is something that all children would enjoy, but the unfortunate reality is that the world is not perfect.

Thanksgiving is a time for gathering, for family and friends to come together to break bread on a day dedicated to expressing appreciation for all the wonderful things in life.

Veterans Day in the Pahrump Valley was marked by two ceremonies, the second of which was hosted by the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 15 at the Pahrump Veterans Memorial inside the Chief Tecopa Cemetery.

In honor of Veterans Day, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10054 gathered to host their annual ceremony. Joining members were several dozen residents and fellow former military service members, all intent on commemorating the holiday, which is one that is taken for granted by many, but one the residents of the Pahrump Valley regularly celebrate with all due solemnity and appreciation.

Desert Haven Animal Society got a big boost to its coffers this month, thanks to the effort of a national nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the masses about animal welfare and the need for communities to support their furry friends.